EU-Japan Centre – Digital Mission

Objectif

OBJECTIVES
- Help EU companies initiate and develop connections in Japan
- Support EU companies with identifying potential partners for future business / innovation partnerships
- Offer first hand exposure and promotion of EU companies’ technologies and services to prospective clients in Japan
- Support EU firms with actionable insights into the Japanese Digital ecosystem and markets, IP regulation, Public Procurement Opportunities and R&D landscape

Critères d'éligibilité

PARTICIPANT PROFILE
This call for applications targets individuals working for companies, including both SMEs and large companies, or clusters from the European Union or a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar, active in advanced digital technologies with clear industrial applications.

The mission focuses on companies offering mature, demonstrable and integration-ready solutions that address concrete operational challenges in industry, infrastructure and the automotive/mobility sector.

Applicants are expected to present a clear use case, proven or pilot deployment experience, and a strong capacity to integrate into existing industrial environments

Technologies clés

Priority will be given to companies aligned with the following profiles:
- Industrial IoT and edge solutions, including predictive maintenance, real-time data processing, and machine connectivity;
- Industrial cybersecurity, covering protection of industrial networks, connected devices, and critical infrastructure;
- Industrial engineering software, including simulation, digital twins, and production optimisation tools; and
- Applied AI solutions addressing specific use cases such as quality inspection, logistics optimisation, or energy efficiency.

Typologie de consortium

The Digital Solutions Business Mission offers a unique entry point into the Japanese market. Mission participants will exhibit and take part in CEATEC 2026, held at Makuhari Messe near Tokyo — Japan's largest and most recognised trade fair focused on digital innovation. The 2025 edition attracted nearly 100.000 attendees, 810 exhibiting companies and organisations, and provided 222 conference sessions, underlining its scale and relevance as a meeting point for the global digital industry.

This 4-day mission offers:
- Exhibition space under the joint EU-Japan Centre booth at CEATEC 2026
- Tailored, 1-to-1 meetings with Japanese counterparts, pre-arranged with the EU-Japan Centre’s support
- Networking and pitching opportunities with Japanese and international stakeholders

For all mission participants, the EU-Japan Centre will provide:
- Two online business and market training modules scheduled prior to the mission
- Entrance fees for events and trade fair in the scope of the mission
- A standardised display stand in the shared booth of the EU-Japan Centre
- Assistance by EU-Japan Centre staff (such as for promotion, B2B meetings)
- Professional interpreters at the joint EU-Japan Centre booth and at the trade fair
- Translation of the poster and the company/cluster profile, as well as printing of the poster for the exhibition
- Tailored 1-to-1 meetings with Japanese counterparts (arranged by the EU-Japan Centre)
- Custom-built IP-related advice and Public Procurement Tender Scan (on-demand)
- Hotel accommodation, arranged by the EU-Japan Centre, from Monday 12 October (before the start of the mission) to Friday 16 October (check-out morning). All selected participants will be provided with the same room type.

All Mission participants are responsible for covering:
- Flight and other travel expenses to the starting point of the mission in Japan and after mission completed
- Living expenses in Japan including local transportation and meals.

PARTICIPATION FEE
To secure their spot, all selected participants must pay a €1.000 deposit. This deposit will be refunded upon successful completion of full mission participation and submission of the questionnaires.
Large companies (non-SMEs/non-Clusters), must also pay a non-refundable contribution fee of €2.500 to secure their spot in the mission.